Removable Drain Filter

ABSTRACT

A removable drain filter that is connected to the main opening of the laundromat-pit includes an upper tubular body, a lower tubular body, a connector body, and a plurality of openings. The upper tubular body is laterally connected around the connector body. The plurality of openings laterally traverses through the upper tubular body thus allowing the wastewater to drain into the upper tubular body while preventing coins and larger debris from entering into the upper tubular body. The lower tubular body is removably mounted to the connector body and extended away from the connector body. The lower tubular body is in fluid communication with the upper tubular body through the connector body so that the wastewater can be discharged into the main opening of the laundromat-pit.

The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 63/223,467 filed on Jul. 19, 2021.

The current application is also a continuation-in-part (CIP) application of the U.S. design application Ser. No. 29/800,048 filed on Jul. 19, 2021.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to commercial drain filters. More specifically, the present invention is a drain filter that is designed to prevent large debris from clogging the drainage system of a laundromat or of the likes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Drain filters are essential when it comes to preventing unwanted debris from entering the pipes or sewage system. Most filters are placed at the entryway of a drainage system. Depending upon the number of debris entering to the sewage system or the types of the usage (residential or commercial), different types of drain filters are utilized before the sewage system. For a laundromat, there are concerns for debris such as coins clogging the drainage system because they accumulate and do not pass through the pee trap. Existing drain filters are not specialized to filter out specific debris such as coins. As a result, laundromats tent to flood thus causing a system overflow.

An objective of the present invention is to provide a removable drain filter that is primarily designed to filter coins and larger debris traveling in the wastewater yet do not plug causing an overflow of the wastewater pit, often see in laundromats. The present invention is a removable drain filter that is designed to prevent passage of coins such as pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, or of the likes. In addition, the present invention provides a drain filter that is easily removable from the drainage system in which it is attached to. Furthermore, the present invention provides an overflow prevention feature in addition to debris filtering.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the present invention, wherein the inner annular-edge is concentrically positioned to the outer annular-edge.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the present invention showing the threaded connection.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the present invention, wherein the inner annular-edge is positioned offset from the outer annular-edge.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the lower tubular body showing that the first diameter is equal to the second diameter.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the lower tubular body showing that the first diameter is larger than the second diameter.

DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

The present invention is a removable drain filter primarily designed for a laundromat or other similar types of commercial drainage systems. The present invention prevents debris such as coins from falling into the drainage system. In addition, the present invention can be easily removed from the drainage system in which it is attached to. Furthermore, the present invention provides an overflow prevention feature to prevent flooding when the present invention gets clogged in an industrial setting. As shown in FIGS. 1-3 , the present invention comprises an upper tubular body 1, a lower tubular body 4, a connector body 7, and a plurality of openings 10.

In reference to the general configuration of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 1-3 and FIG. 5 , the upper tubular body 1 is laterally connected around the connector body 7 as the connector body 7 is positioned towards the bottom end of the upper tubular body 1. The plurality of openings 10 laterally traverses through the upper tubular body 1. The plurality of openings 10 functions as passageways to filter wastewater from a laundromat-pit into the upper tubular body 1 while trapping larger debris outside of the upper tubular body 1. The lower tubular body 4 is removably mounted to the connector body 7, wherein the lower tubular body 4 is in fluid communication with the upper tubular body 1 through the connector body 7. In other words, a top end of the lower tubular body 4 is attached to the connector body 7 while a bottom end of the lower tubular body 4 is connected to the main opening of the drainage system. As a result, filtered wastewater from the upper tubular body 1 is able to travel into the drainage system via the lower tubular body 4.

The upper tubular body 1 is the top half of the present invention and provides filtration of debris from incoming contents, such as coins and large debris that contain within the laundromat-pit. In reference to FIGS. 1-3 , the upper tubular body 1 is an elongated and hollow cylinder and comprises a fixed edge 2 and a free edge 3 as the upper tubular body 1 is extended from the fixed edge 2 to the free edge 3. The fixed edge 2 is concentrically positioned to the free edge 3 so that the upper tubular body 1 can be shaped into an elongated and linear body thus eliminating corners and bends. The fixed edge 2 is perimetrically connected around an outer annular-edge 8 of the connector body 7 thus completing the connection of the connector body 7. The plurality of openings 10 is radially distributed from the fixed edge 2 to the free edge 3 so that the wastewater within the laundromat-pit can filter into the upper tubular body 1. Preferably, the plurality of openings 10 are distributed in a linear pattern arrangement to maximize the wastewater drainage. Furthermore, each of the plurality of openings 10 is small enough to prevent passage of debris such as coins but allows the discharge of wastewater through and into the main opening of the drainage system. In order to prevent passage of coins such as pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, or of the likes, a diameter for each of the plurality of openings 10 is smaller than 0.704 inch. When wastewater levels in the laundromat-pit is to increase due to heavy suage or blockage of the plurality of openings 10, the wastewater can go over the free edge 3 and flows down into the main opening of the drainage system. In order to accomplish this, the free edge 3 is positioned below the top edge of the laundromat-pit during installation so that the present invention is able to prevent the overflow of the laundromat-pit.

The lower tubular body 4 is the bottom half of the present invention and provides the pathway for wastewater to travel into the main opening of the drainage system. In reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 , the lower tubular body 4 is formed into is a hollow cylinder and comprises a proximal end 5 that is formed into an opening and a distal end 6 that is formed into an opening. The proximal end 5 is threadedly engaged with an inner annular-edge 9 of the connector body 7 while the distal end 6 is positioned offset from the connector body 7. The proximal end 5 is concentrically positioned to the distal end 6 so that the lower tubular body 4 can be shaped into an elongated and linear body thus eliminating corners and bends.

In reference to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 , the connector body 7 comprises the outer annular-edge 8 and the inner annular-edge 9. In other words, the connector body 7 is a ring-shaped platform that has an outer edge and inner edge so that the upper tubular body 1 can be mounted to the lower tubular body 4.

In a first configuration of the connector body 7, the inner annular-edge 9 is concentrically positioned within the outer annular-edge 8 as shown in FIG. 4 . As a result, the lower tubular body 4 is concentrically positioned to the upper tubular body 1 when the upper tubular body 1 is threadedly engaged with the lower tubular body 4. For example, the first configuration of the connector body 7 is utilized within the present invention when the main opening of the drainage system is positioned away from the lateral walls of the laundromat-pit and the upper tubular body 1 do not touch any lateral walls of the laundromat-pit.

In a second configuration of the connector body 7, the inner annular-edge 9 is positioned offset and within the outer annular-edge 8 as shown in FIG. 6 . As a result, the lower tubular body 4 is positioned offset to the upper tubular body 1 when the upper tubular body 1 is threadedly engaged with the lower tubular body 4. For example, the second configuration of the connector body 7 is utilized within the present invention when the main opening of the drainage system is positioned at a corner of the laundromat-pit so that the upper tubular body 1 can be offset from the lateral walls of the laundromat-pit for proper installation.

In reference to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 , the present invention further comprises a first diameter 11 and a second diameter 12. More specifically, the first diameter 11 is delineated about the proximal end 5 of the lower tubular body 4. The second diameter 12 is delineated about the distal end 6 of the lower tubular body 4. When the lower tubular body 4 is a straight cylinder, the first diameter 11 is equal to the second diameter 12 thus providing a fixed diameter throughout the lower tubular body 4. For example, when the main opening of the drainage system is an industry standard diameter (4 inches, 5 inches, or 6 inches), the user can utilize the corresponding fixed diameter lower tubular body 4 to mount the present invention into the main opening of the drainage system. When the lower tubular body 4 is a flared cylinder, the first diameter 11 is larger than the second diameter 12 as the lower tubular body 4 continuously tapers inward from the proximal end 5 to the distal end 6. For example, when the main opening of the drainage system is an unknown diameter, the user can utilize the flared cylindrical lower tubular body 4 to mount the present invention into the main opening of the drainage system.

It is important to note that the present invention is primarily utilized within the drainage system of a laundromat to prevent coins from passing into the drain and accumulating into the pipes/drains. The present invention can be utilized in other industrial settings as it is not intended to be limited to a location of a laundromat but including drain applications that require filtering of debris with an overflow prevention feature. It is also understood that the lower tubular body 4 can be removably mounted to the connector body 7 with any industry standard fastening mechanism other, such as friction fit, male and female fastening features, interlocking fastening features, etc.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A removable drain filter comprising: an upper tubular body; a lower tubular body; a connector body; a plurality of openings; the upper tubular body being laterally connected around the connector body; the plurality of openings laterally traversing through the upper tubular body; the lower tubular body being removably mounted to the connector body; and the lower tubular body being in fluid communication with the upper tubular body through the connector body.
 2. The removable drain filter as claimed in claim 1 comprising: the upper tubular body comprising a fixed edge and a free edge; the fixed edge being perimetrically connected around an outer annular-edge of the connector body; and the plurality of openings being radially distributed from the fixed edge to the free edge.
 3. The removable drain filter as claimed in claim 2, wherein the fixed edge is concentrically positioned to the free edge.
 4. The removable drain filter as claimed in claim 1 comprising: the lower tubular body comprising a proximal end and a distal end; the proximal end being threadedly engaged with an inner annular-edge of the connector body; and the distal end being positioned offset from the connector body.
 5. The removable drain filter as claimed in claim 4, wherein the proximal end is concentrically positioned to the distal end.
 6. The removable drain filter as claimed in claim 1 comprising: the connector body comprising an outer annular-edge and an inner annular-edge; the inner annular-edge being concentrically positioned within the outer annular-edge; and the lower tubular body being concentrically positioned to the upper tubular body.
 7. The removable drain filter as claimed in claim 1 comprising: the connector body comprising an outer annular-edge and an inner annular-edge; the inner annular-edge being positioned offset within the outer annular-edge; and the lower tubular body being positioned offset to the upper tubular body.
 8. The removable drain filter as claimed in claim 1 comprising: a first diameter; a second diameter; the first diameter being delineated about a proximal end of the lower tubular body; and the second diameter being delineated about a distal end of the lower tubular body.
 9. The removable drain filter as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first diameter is equal to the second diameter.
 10. The removable drain filter as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first diameter is larger than the second diameter.
 11. The removable drain filter as claimed in claim 1, wherein a diameter for each of the plurality of openings is smaller than 0.704 inch.
 12. A removable drain filter comprising: an upper tubular body; a lower tubular body; a connector body; a plurality of openings; the upper tubular body being laterally connected around the connector body; the plurality of openings laterally traversing through the upper tubular body; the lower tubular body being removably mounted to the connector body; the lower tubular body being in fluid communication with the upper tubular body through the connector body; and a diameter for each of the plurality of openings is smaller than 0.704 inch.
 13. The removable drain filter as claimed in claim 12 comprising: the upper tubular body comprising a fixed edge and a free edge; the fixed edge being perimetrically connected around an outer annular-edge of the connector body; the plurality of openings being radially distributed from the fixed edge to the free edge; and the fixed edge being concentrically positioned to the free edge.
 14. The removable drain filter as claimed in claim 12 comprising: the lower tubular body comprising a proximal end and a distal end; the proximal end being threadedly engaged with an inner annular-edge of the connector body; the distal end being positioned offset from the connector body; and the proximal end being concentrically positioned to the distal end.
 15. The removable drain filter as claimed in claim 12 comprising: the connector body comprising an outer annular-edge and an inner annular-edge; the inner annular-edge being concentrically positioned within the outer annular-edge; and the lower tubular body being concentrically positioned to the upper tubular body.
 16. The removable drain filter as claimed in claim 12 comprising: the connector body comprising an outer annular-edge and an inner annular-edge; the inner annular-edge being positioned offset within the outer annular-edge; and the lower tubular body being positioned offset to the upper tubular body.
 17. The removable drain filter as claimed in claim 12 comprising: a first diameter; a second diameter; the first diameter being delineated about a proximal end of the lower tubular body; and the second diameter being delineated about a distal end of the lower tubular body.
 18. The removable drain filter as claimed in claim 17, wherein the first diameter is equal to the second diameter.
 19. The removable drain filter as claimed in claim 17, wherein the first diameter is larger than the second diameter. 